A Potter Secret

Rogue Bludgers and Skele-gro

We join the Quidditch match in mid-game. The crowd roars, watching as Slytherin Chasers, bent low over their new brooms, jet past the overmatched Gryffindors. "Gallopin' Gorgons! Slytherin's flyin' like they got dragon fire in their brooms-" Hagrid narrates. Ron fumes, looking as though he takes Slytherin's dominance personally. Taking Hagrid's giant binoculars, he trains them on the faculty box, where Lucius Malfoy sits next to Snape. Isabella sits in his pocket, watching what she can.

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Harry circles high above the pitch, searching for the Golden Snitch. Suddenly, Malfoy streaks by overhead. "All right there, Scarhead?" Draco prods.

Harry turns, eyes Malfoy malevolently. Behind him, a bludger drops in and begins to streak toward his head.

"HARRY! WATCH OUT!" George cries out.

Harry wheels and at the last possible moment, slips the whistling bludger. Crack! George swoops down, bats it away. Harry turns, watches it soar away, then blinks: the Bludger turns, streaks right back at him. Harry jets off.

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"Blimey, Harry's got 'imself a Rogue Bludger!" Hagrid realizes.

"Rogue Bludger?" Ron asks.

"Look fer yerself! It's bin' tampered with!" Hagrid insists.

Harry executes a series of zigs, zags, loops and rolls, trying to shake the Bludger, but the Bludger is relentless. Ron instinctively draws his wand, begins to point it toward Harry and the Bludger, when, Hermione's hand intercedes. She glances knowingly at his fractured wand. "You're joking, right? Besides, even with a proper wand, it's too risky. You could hit Harry," Hermione reminds.

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As Harry frantically dips and dives, Malfoy cruises by. "Training for the ballet, Potter?" Draco teases.

Harry glances at Malfoy's sneering face. Buzzing inches above Malfoy's left ear is, the golden snitch. Harry charges. Malfoy gulps, swings clear, and watches Harry rocket past. As Harry chases the plummeting Snitch, Malfoy follows in hot pursuit. They race downward, trailing the hissing snitch deep into the trench circling the pitch. Shoulder to shoulder, they race madly, driving and dodging the wooden support beams that crisscross their path. Directly behind them, the Bludger follows, shattering the beams as it dogs Harry. Malfoy kicks Harry, forcing him to the edge of the trench. Harry brushes the wall, battling for control. Malfoy turns, snickers, then looks back, and finds himself heading smack into a wooden beam. Panicked, he tries to pull up. Too late. Broom meets beam and Malfoy spirals out of the trench and, Thwump!, flat on his back in the middle of the pitch. Harry continues on, closing on the Snitch, fingertips only inches from catching it, when, the Rogue Bludger smashes into Harry's arm. Harry cries out, steadies himself and with a brilliant, acrobatic move, snatches the Snitch out of the air with his good hand. Unable to control his broom with his shattered arm, he hits the pitch with a sickening thud. Wincing, Harry rolls onto his shoulders, squints up at a black dot, growing rapidly larger, is plummeting from the sky, directly toward him. It's, the rogue Bludger. Instantly, Harry spins away, grimacing in agony, as the Bludger, hits the ground like a sledge hammer, violently tattooing the pitch again and again, only inches from Harry. Calmly, Hermione strides forth, points her wand. "Finite Incantatem!" Hermione cries.

The Bludger hangs briefly in the air. Slowly ceases spinning. Drops heavily to the pitch. Harry exhales, relieved, only to recall the searing pain in his arm. A kitten jumps on his lap and Harry smiles slightly before cringing. As concerned faces swim above him, one particular face pushes through the others. "Not to worry, Harry. I'll fix that arm of yours straight away," Lockhart assures.